Princess Diana's lonely last Christmas spent alone with reheated meal

Believe it or not, the rivalry between the princes of Denmark is wilder than Prince Harry and Prince William’s feud!

The Royal Family welcomed back Sarah Ferguson to one of their most significant occasions, suggesting that "all is not lost" with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid the rift, a royal expert said. On Christmas Day 2023, the Duchess of York joined her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie along with other members of the Royal Family at Sandringham.

Princess Eugenie has "maintained a close relationship" with Prince Harry amid the Royal Family rift, with hopes that Sarah Ferguson could "act as a mentor" for a family reunion. Since The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their royal duties in 2020, tensions have noticeably grown with the Royal Family, including with brother Prince William and father King Charles.Things blew up after Harry released his explosive memoir Spare last year, along with their tell-all Oprah Winfrey interview and revealing Netflix docu-series.The couple, who reside in Montecito, California, made a modest appearance for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and funeral in 2022, but Harry attended his father's Coronation solo last year.They have since been noticeably distant from the Royal Family with their relationships yet to be rekindled.

The late Queen used to keep her Christmas decorations up until February, unlike the rest of us who pack away our festive decor in early January. The Queen would spend her Christmas holidays at Sandringham and stay there until early February to mark the anniversary of her father George VI's death, who passed away in his sleep on February 6. The festive decorations at the estate would remain up until the Queen left, often a few days after the anniversary.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's plans for redemption in 2024 have been ruined, according to one royal author, after they decided to spend Christmas in California, rather than with the other Royals at Sandringham. It comes after a rather mixed year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Prince Harry's memoir Spare becoming the fastest selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began.

The Royal Family owns homes, castles and palaces all over the country with many of them being bought with private funds. While events such as Easter are spent at Windsor Castle, Christmas is typically enjoyed at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Last year's festive period was a huge step forward for more reasons than one.

King Charles has reportedly adopted Prince Harry's role of jokester this year over the Christmas period.

Prince William has revealed that he loves to play a Christmas game with his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, which often leaves everyone "very cross".The Prince of Wales shared this during a special chat in 2021 with Radio Marsden, a radio station serving the Royal Marsden Hospital, where he is a patron. During the conversation, a boy named Henry asked Prince William about his favourite board game.To this, the future King replied: "Henry, we are playing board games with the children quite a lot.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's hopes of a Christmas reunion in the UK have been dashed due to fresh drama. Fans were hoping that 2023 might be the year the couple would patch things up with the rest of the Royal Family and spend Christmas at Sandringham. In recent months, there have been whispers from sources close to Harry and Meghan suggesting they were keen on spending the festive season with their extended family in Britain.

After two days of eating and drinking in lavish style, Boxing Day is when many of the royals get up early, pull on their waxed Barbour jackets and wellington boots, and load their guns for a day of shooting on the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate. Although for many of us the day is about strolling off the excesses, playing games and snuggling in front of the TV, senior members of the family are expected to join the hunt for plump pheasants or grouse.

Photos have emerged of the royal family attending their Christmas Day Service at Sandringham!

The royal family marked Christmas Day by attending the traditional festive church service on the King’s Sandringham estate.

Prince Louis melted hearts as he sweetly held hands with Mia Tindall during the Royal family's traditional Christmas Day walk to church at Sandringham.The young prince was seen wearing tartan trousers and a blue pea coat as he held onto his dad Prince William and Mia Tindall, the oldest daughter of Mike and Zara Tindall. Louis looked thrilled to be walking with his cousin as both had red cheeks from the cold and flashed grins at waiting royal fans.

The Royal Family are expected to spend Christmas at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk this year with members of the family all staying in the main house and vacant surrounding properties.To relieve the number of people staying in the house itself, royals such as the Prince and Princess of Wales are likely to stay at their nearby home of Anmer Hall with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.Thought to be their favourite property, Anmer Hall was a wedding gift to the couple from the late Queen and is located on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Anmer Hall is an 18th century red-brick home situated in the village of Anmer in Norfolk, England.

While they observe many of the festive traditions that a popular all over the UK, the Royal Family's Christmas is also unique and unexpected in many ways. One of the most well-known royal Christmas traditions is the fact that members of the family buy each other joke gifts, rather than serious ones, with previous presents including a singing hamster, a 'grow your own girlfriend kit' and even a leather toilet seat. Among these hilarious gifts was one Prince Harry decided to give to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Gift-giving can be a challenging affair when your nearest and dearest already own priceless jewels, designer clothes and luxury cars. So instead of splashing out on expensive, over-the-top items, the royals don’t take seasonal gifting seriously.

Far from the world of royal banquets and formal regal traditions, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prefer a more low-key Christmas these days. Since moving to balmy Montecito in California in March 2020, Harry, Meghan and their two children Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, have opted for relaxed festive celebrations on their luxury five-acre estate. “We’re probably talking barbecues and walks on the beach for the Sussexes rather than obligatory black-tie dinners and pheasant shoots at Sandringham,” says royal expert Duncan Larcombe.

With Christmas only days away, the Royal Family will be making their final preparations to head off to Sandringham to enjoy the festive season together. Despite an invitation having reportedly been extended, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex look set to remain in California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. While this does not come as a surprise after a turbulent year of veiled attacks in the form of books, documentaries and interviews, it is likely the couple will enjoy an intimate festive season.

The Royal Family's Christmas celebrations are famously similar to many other families up and down the country - albeit with a few more unique elements thrown in which take their historic German roots into account. While we can expect to see everyone from The King and the Queen to The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in attendance on the morning walk to St Mary Magdalene Church, what do they get up the rest of the day? The main dinner on Christmas Day is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year and it’s no secret that we like it to run as smoothly as possible.

The Royal Family will be counting down the days to Christmas where they will return to the Sandringham Estate and spend time together as a family. When it comes to what the royals choose to eat during the festive period, it is said their choices couldn't be more traditional with former royal chef Darren McGrady going as far to describe the family's meal choices as "boring".